25 Essential Business Idioms for Fluent English
TLDRThis video script is an educational resource aimed at teaching non-native English speakers common idiomatic expressions used in professional settings. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and using phrases like 'think outside the box' and 'cut corners' to communicate effectively in a business context. The instructor suggests creating sentences and reading aloud to memorize these expressions. The script also includes a quiz to test learners' comprehension, aiming to enhance their English fluency and make them sound more native-like.
Takeaways
- 🧑💼 Many professionals are fluent in English but want to learn common idiomatic expressions used by native speakers in the workplace.
- ⚾ Instead of saying 'tell me approximately how much this will cost,' native speakers say 'give me a ballpark figure.'
- 🔄 Instead of saying 'we need to get started on this project,' native speakers say 'we need to get the ball rolling.'
- 🟢 Instead of saying 'we can't start until the boss approves it,' native speakers say 'we can't start until the boss gives us the green light.'
- 🎨 To 'think outside the box' means to think creatively and not be limited by rules, often used in business for new ideas.
- 💡 'Cutting Edge' refers to the newest and most advanced technology or design, often leading in the industry.
- 🔧 'Bottom line' means the main point or the most important thing to consider in a situation.
- 🧺 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket' means not to rely on one strategy or option to avoid risk.
- 📄 'To be on the same page' means to be in agreement or to think similarly, often used to ensure team alignment.
- 🏃♀️ 'To go the extra mile' means to put in extra effort beyond what is required or expected.
Q & A
What is the main concern of the students mentioned in the script?
-The main concern of the students is that they wish to use expressions that native speakers use, as they sometimes struggle to understand native speakers due to idiomatic expressions.
What is an example of a common idiomatic expression used by native speakers in the workplace?
-An example of a common idiomatic expression is 'give me a ballpark figure,' which is used instead of asking for an approximate cost.
What does the idiom 'get the ball rolling' mean?
-The idiom 'get the ball rolling' means to start a process or a project in order to initiate action or progress.
What technique is suggested for memorizing new idioms?
-The suggested technique for memorizing new idioms is to pause after learning each idiom, create your own sentences, say them out loud, and read the sentences on the screen together with the instructor.
What does the expression 'think outside the box' imply in a business context?
-In a business context, 'think outside the box' implies thinking in an original and creative way that is not limited by traditional ideas or rules.
What does the term 'cutting edge' refer to in terms of technology or innovation?
-The term 'cutting edge' refers to the newest and most advanced state in technology, innovation, or any field, indicating leadership or a pioneering position.
What is the meaning of 'put all your eggs in one basket'?
-The idiom 'put all your eggs in one basket' means to rely on only one strategy or option, which carries the risk of losing everything if that one fails.
What does the idiom 'on the same page' signify in terms of teamwork?
-'On the same page' signifies that all team members are in agreement, have the same understanding, and are working towards the same goals effectively.
What does 'going the extra mile' mean in terms of effort or commitment?
-'Going the extra mile' means to put in more effort than what is required or expected, or to try harder after already investing significant effort.
What does the idiom 'cross the te's and dot the i's' imply about attention to detail?
-The idiom 'cross the te's and dot the i's' implies paying careful attention to every small detail, ensuring thoroughness and accuracy in completing tasks.
What is the meaning of 'the elephant in the room' and how is it used?
-'The elephant in the room' refers to an obvious problem or issue that is being ignored or not discussed, often because it is uncomfortable or controversial.
What does 'hitting the nail on the head' signify when discussing accuracy or correctness?
-'Hitting the nail on the head' signifies doing something exactly right, accurately identifying or addressing an issue or situation.
What is the meaning of 'to cover all the bases' in terms of ensuring success?
-'To cover all the bases' means to do everything necessary to ensure success, making sure that every aspect is considered and nothing is overlooked.
What does 'playing catch up' imply about efforts to keep pace with others?
-'Playing catch up' implies making an effort to keep up with competitors, deadlines, or demands by working hard to reach the same level or standard as others.
What is the meaning of 'to put out fires' in a workplace context?
-In a workplace context, 'to put out fires' means to deal with urgent problems or crises as they arise, often implying a reactive approach to managing issues.
What does 'getting the green light' mean in the context of business approvals?
-'Getting the green light' in business means receiving approval or permission to start a project, campaign, or any initiative.
What does the idiom 'up in the air' signify about the certainty of a situation?
-'Up in the air' signifies that a situation is not yet decided or certain; it is still uncertain or undetermined.
What does 'going down the rabbit hole' mean when discussing focus or distractions?
-'Going down the rabbit hole' means getting lost in details or distractions, often losing sight of the main issue or goal due to exploring tangential topics.
What is the meaning of 'low hanging fruit' in terms of achieving success or progress?
-'Low hanging fruit' refers to tasks or opportunities that are easy to accomplish or achieve, allowing for quick wins or progress with minimal effort.
What does 'getting the axe' mean in the context of employment?
-'Getting the axe' means being fired or losing one's job, often due to company restructuring, budget cuts, or poor performance.
What is the meaning of 'dropping the ball' in terms of making a mistake or missing an opportunity?
-'Dropping the ball' means making a mistake or missing an opportunity, especially at a crucial moment, due to a failure to take necessary action.
What does 'having a lot on your plate' imply about one's workload or responsibilities?
-'Having a lot on your plate' implies having many tasks, responsibilities, or problems to deal with, often suggesting a heavy workload or multiple pressing issues.
What does 'cutting corners' mean in terms of work quality or approach?
-'Cutting corners' means taking shortcuts or compromising quality in order to save time or money, often resulting in inferior work or products.
What is the meaning of 'the big picture' or 'getting the big picture'?
-'The big picture' or 'getting the big picture' refers to understanding the overall situation or seeing the entire perspective, rather than focusing solely on the details.
What does 'going forward' signify in terms of future plans or changes?
-'Going forward' signifies actions or plans for the future, indicating a change of approach, a new plan, or a commitment to change from the current point onward.
What does 'pulling the trigger' mean in the context of making a decision or taking action?
-'Pulling the trigger' means making a final decision or committing to a course of action, often used in contexts requiring decisiveness or a significant choice.
Outlines
📚 Learning Common Business Idioms
This paragraph introduces the video's focus on teaching common English expressions used in the workplace. It highlights the struggle of non-native speakers to understand idiomatic language, using examples like 'give me a ballpark figure' and 'get the ball rolling'. The instructor suggests memorization techniques, such as creating sentences and reading aloud, and emphasizes the importance of watching the video to the end for a quiz.
🔑 Key Business Idioms and Their Applications
The paragraph delves into specific business idioms, explaining their meanings and providing examples of their usage. Idioms like 'think outside the box', 'cutting edge', 'ballpark figure', 'get the ball rolling', and 'the bottom line' are covered, illustrating their relevance in business contexts and encouraging viewers to practice using them.
🚀 Advancing English Proficiency with Idioms
This section continues to explore English idioms, including 'put all your eggs in one basket', 'on the same page', 'go the extra mile', 'cross the te's and dot the eyes', and 'the elephant in the room'. It discusses the importance of understanding these expressions for clear communication and provides examples of how native speakers might use them in various situations.
🔍 Navigating Workplace Challenges with Idioms
The paragraph discusses idioms related to problem-solving and decision-making in a work environment. Expressions such as 'to hit the nail on the head', 'to cover all the bases', 'to play it by ear', 'to play catch-up', and 'to put out fires' are explained, with examples to demonstrate their practical application in professional scenarios.
💼 Business Approvals and Strategic Decisions
This section covers idioms that pertain to approvals and strategic actions within a business setting. 'Get the green light', 'up in the air', 'to go down the rabbit hole', 'low hanging fruit', 'get the axe', 'drop the ball', and 'I have a lot on my plate' are defined and exemplified, showing how they are used to describe project statuses and work-related challenges.
🛠️ Refining Business Strategies and Actions
The final paragraph focuses on refining strategies and actions with idioms like 'to cut corners', 'the big picture', 'going forward', 'to pull the trigger'. It discusses the implications of these expressions in business decision-making and planning, and ends with a quiz to test the viewer's understanding of the idioms taught throughout the video.
🏆 Mastering Idiomatic Language for Professional Success
The concluding paragraph of the script summarizes the importance of mastering idiomatic language for professional success. It provides a final quiz question about the idiom 'to pull the trigger' and encourages viewers to practice the idioms to enhance their English fluency. The paragraph also promotes a special offer on English language courses to further improve language skills.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Idiomatic Expressions
💡Workplace
💡Ballpark Figure
💡Get the Ball Rolling
💡Green Light
💡Bottom Line
💡Think Outside the Box
💡Cutting Edge
💡Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
💡On the Same Page
💡Elephant in the Room
Highlights
Learning idiomatic expressions used by native English speakers at the workplace is crucial for non-native speakers to improve their communication skills.
The importance of understanding idiomatic expressions in business to avoid misunderstandings with native speakers.
The idiom 'give me a ballpark figure' is used to ask for an approximate cost estimate instead of an exact figure.
The phrase 'get the ball rolling' signifies initiating a process or project to encourage others to participate.
The expression 'the green light' is used to indicate receiving approval or permission to start a project or activity.
The idiom 'think outside the box' encourages creative and original thinking, especially in business contexts.
The term 'cutting edge' describes the latest and most advanced technology or innovations.
The phrase 'put all your eggs in one basket' warns against relying on a single strategy or option due to the risk of losing everything.
Being 'on the same page' means to be in agreement or to share the same understanding or goals within a group.
The idiom 'go the extra mile' refers to putting in extra effort beyond what is required or expected.
The expression 'cross the te's and dot the eyes' means to pay meticulous attention to every small detail.
The idiom 'the elephant in the room' represents an obvious problem or issue that is being ignored by everyone.
The phrase 'hit the nail on the head' means to do or say something that is exactly right or accurate.
The idiom 'cover all the bases' suggests taking all necessary actions to ensure success by considering every aspect.
The expression 'play it by ear' means to make decisions without a specific plan, adapting to the situation as it unfolds.
The idiom 'play catchup' is used when trying to catch up with competitors or meet deadlines by making an effort to keep up with demands.
The phrase 'to put out fires' is commonly used to describe dealing with urgent problems or crises at work.
The idiom 'up in the air' indicates that a situation is undecided and not yet determined.
The expression 'low hanging fruit' refers to tasks or opportunities that are easy to achieve and require minimal effort.
The idiom 'get the axe' means to be fired or lose one's job, often due to budget cuts or performance issues.
The phrase 'drop the ball' signifies making a mistake or missing an opportunity, especially at a critical moment.
The idiom 'a lot on my plate' conveys having many responsibilities or a lot of work to handle.
The expression 'cut corners' implies taking shortcuts or compromising quality to save time or money.
Understanding 'the big picture' means seeing the overall situation or having the entire perspective in view.
The phrase 'going forward' is used to indicate future actions, changes in approach, or a commitment to change.
The idiom 'pull the trigger' signifies making a final decision or committing to a course of action.
Transcripts
Browse More Related Video
Upper-Intermediate Phrases (B1 + B2) You Definitely Need to Know
You understand English but can't speak fluently? This is why! (ACTION PLAN!)
How I Became Fluent in Spanish Studying On My Own
How To Connect Ideas In English [with Linking Words]
English Job Interview Dos & Dont's! | English Conversation Practice
🚫 DON'T MAKE THESE GRAMMAR MISTAKES THAT EVEN NATIVE SPEAKERS MAKE
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: